Do you remember when..

[dante]

Did someone say Rotary phones???

Check out this site: OldPhones.com

They sell vintage rotary phones that have been converted for use on modern digital landlines.

This is the type of phone I would use if I could no longer have a flip phone.

[beehatch]

Did someone say Rotary phones???

Check out this site: OldPhones.com

They sell vintage rotary phones that have been converted for use on modern digital landlines.

This is the type of phone I would use if I could no longer have a flip phone.

Tooexpensive4me

I got mine for like 8 dolla

[baldgye]

Shamfull lack of Encarta up in this *****



Fact checking, before the internet? pffttt...

(yes I know the internet existed in the 80s but I didn't have any internet access pre-98)

[fohat.digs]

I have an original black rotary Nortel from the early 1970s.

The sound and feel are amazing, when you use it you are astonished at how good it sounds.

Also, when the power goes out, it will still ring and work properly.

After divestiture in the early 1980s, AT&T was no longer able to own the equipment and charge rent on it. Around 1986-87, I got a call from Southern Bell telling me that I had to give back the phone, or buy it from them. Either way, I was going to have to buy a phone, and they were not nearly as cheap back then as they are now.

Since I really liked the phone, I asked "How much?" and they said something like $70. "Oh, too much." I said. Then they said, "We can charge $6 to your monthly account for a year." and I agreed to that.

The phone is easily 4 decades old, has taken extraordinary abuse, but is still in perfect condition and the sound is crystal clear.
 

[baldgye]

the sound is crystal clear.

I wish my phone calls where crystal clear... maybe it's just me but every phone I've used/use sounds like **** and everyone sounds pretty much the same. I like phones but I think that over the last 40-50 years the technology has been allowed to stagnate and it ****ing sucks.

[fohat.digs]

technology has been allowed to stagnate

For one thing, the Nortel handset has real condensers and diaphragms well over an inch (3-4cm) in diameter for both microphone and speaker.

[paicrai]

i remember a lot of things such as sneezing earlier today

aren't we just the big ol' smarty pants?

bring back the old avatar

[jdcarpe]

Do you remember when...

You didn't have a phone, smart or otherwise, on your person 24/7?

This thing would ring, and you would answer with, "Hello?"

Show Image

You had no way of knowing who was on the other end of the line while it was ringing, until a thing called "Caller ID" came along.

Text messaging? That was called "writing a letter," and you had to pay for a stamp to send it.

I actually have a rotary phone in my house since we still have a landline. It's annoying as ****, but also suitable decoration!

My grandparents had a rotary phone up until a few years ago.... have you tried using it drunk yet? Now that is a true test of skill.

Hahahaha... 

Try using one where the finger stop has broken...

Just use the hook switch in that case. You can tap out the number pretty reliably.